Kicksave wrote:That line-up is terribly small/weak compared to last season.

Well, when you take out Malone, and Laraque, that is about 500 lbs of skater to replace.

This lineup is a little smaller but much faster top to bottom. How did Detroit do against us again? Last time I looked, they are not loaded up with guys that are 215# or more. But their quickness to the puck really hurt didn't it.

Kicksave wrote:That line-up is terribly small/weak compared to last season.

Well, when you take out Malone, and Laraque, that is about 500 lbs of skater to replace.

This lineup is a little smaller but much faster top to bottom. How did Detroit do against us again? Last time I looked, they are not loaded up with guys that are 215# or more. But their quickness to the puck really hurt didn't it.

They also play a defensive system that is anchored by future hall of famer in Nik Lidstrom and by quality guys like Brian Rafalski and Niklas Kronwall.

Kicksave wrote:That line-up is terribly small/weak compared to last season.

Well, when you take out Malone, and Laraque, that is about 500 lbs of skater to replace.

This lineup is a little smaller but much faster top to bottom. How did Detroit do against us again? Last time I looked, they are not loaded up with guys that are 215# or more. But their quickness to the puck really hurt didn't it.

They also play a defensive system that is anchored by future hall of famer in Nik Lidstrom and by quality guys like Brian Rafalski and Niklas Kronwall.

Detroit won because they were a faster team, especially on defense. A year of experience for Letang and Eaton make the Penguins faster defensively. If Goligoski is good enough to stick around (because of numbers he probably won't), he'll add to the speed.

Fedotenko is smaller than Malone, but he's about the same size as Holmstrom. Fedotenko is not Holmstrom, just comparing them by height and weight. Cooke is smaller than Ruutu, but he's faster and a better player. Talbot playing 12-15 minutes a night makes the Penguins faster. Godard and Staal's size cancel out Laraque and Malone.

The Penguins didn't lose as much size as some think. They did get faster. As long as the Penguins can remain a tough team to play against, I'm not worried.

Scott wrote:Well, when you take out Malone, and Laraque, that is about 500 lbs of skater to replace.

This lineup is a little smaller but much faster top to bottom. How did Detroit do against us again? Last time I looked, they are not loaded up with guys that are 215# or more. But their quickness to the puck really hurt didn't it.

They also play a defensive system that is anchored by future hall of famer in Nik Lidstrom and by quality guys like Brian Rafalski and Niklas Kronwall.

Detroit won because they were a faster team, especially on defense. A year of experience for Letang and Eaton make the Penguins faster defensively. If Goligoski is good enough to stick around (because of numbers he probably won't), he'll add to the speed.

Fedotenko is smaller than Malone, but he's about the same size as Holmstrom. Fedotenko is not Holmstrom, just comparing them by height and weight. Cooke is smaller than Ruutu, but he's faster and a better player. Talbot playing 12-15 minutes a night makes the Penguins faster. Godard and Staal's size cancel out Laraque and Malone.

The Penguins didn't lose as much size as some think. They did get faster. As long as the Penguins can remain a tough team to play against, I'm not worried.

But by having the bigger team that could bang and beat up their opponents is what took the Pens to the finals?

The Eastern conference is much bigger/tougher than the Western conference.

I was thinking that as well. I wouldn't be surprised if he and Dupuis switched a lot over the course of the season, depending on who's playing better, and on a more microscopic level, who's fresher (like after a PK since Dup sees a lot of action there).

I was thinking that as well. I wouldn't be surprised if he and Dupuis switched a lot over the course of the season, depending on who's playing better, and on a more microscopic level, who's fresher (like after a PK since Dup sees a lot of action there).

I couldnt agree more! I think Cooke with have career numbers this season...

I'm just sick of hearing "The Pens aren't tough anymore..." Truly sick of hearing it. Honestly, I dream of a day where we don't have to hire an enforcer (a.k.a. wasted body) to 'defend' the top talent. I'd rather use Godard's roster spot for someone who can chip in on offense too. The Pens have enough physicality and I'll be thrilled if the team is faster this year instead of tougher.

Let Pesonen play regularly on the top line in WBS until an opportunity pops up, assuming he deserves it. Bissonette has limited experience at forward so he could use the time in the AHL to get more used to the position. He definitely seems to have some potential as a future fourth liner here.

CKA24 wrote:I'm just sick of hearing "The Pens aren't tough anymore..." Truly sick of hearing it. Honestly, I dream of a day where we don't have to hire an enforcer (a.k.a. wasted body) to 'defend' the top talent. I'd rather use Godard's roster spot for someone who can chip in on offense too. The Pens have enough physicality and I'll be thrilled if the team is faster this year instead of tougher.

Remember that the first time Malkin takes a stick or Crosby is going to the bench with a bloody nose.. Remember the second Flyer game last year? Smith was nailing Crosby and laughing about it.Remember the sixth Flyer game, BGL suspended, Cote is running Sykora and Malkin before beating up Malone.

Let me revise my point: It annoys the crap out of me because we really don't know how 'tough' this team is going to be. Yes -- we lost a handful of people who played physically, but we've retained several others who play the game physically as well. We've signed a few people who will do more of the same. Some of the players we've retained may play more physically or players may step up and play a more physical game.

I also think that physical play is a team philosophy, not a specialized area. When I watch/think about the Red Wings, I don't see a skilled team with a few physical specialists. I see a team that buys into a physical, aggressive system of play.

CKA24 wrote:I'm just sick of hearing "The Pens aren't tough anymore..." Truly sick of hearing it. Honestly, I dream of a day where we don't have to hire an enforcer (a.k.a. wasted body) to 'defend' the top talent. I'd rather use Godard's roster spot for someone who can chip in on offense too. The Pens have enough physicality and I'll be thrilled if the team is faster this year instead of tougher.

Remember that the first time Malkin takes a stick or Crosby is going to the bench with a bloody nose.. Remember the second Flyer game last year? Smith was nailing Crosby and laughing about it.Remember the sixth Flyer game, BGL suspended, Cote is running Sykora and Malkin before beating up Malone.

I don't really remember any of that stuff. I do remember eliminating the Flyers from the playoffs though.

Its about time that someone doesn't need to protect Malkin. Are we forgetting that he is 6'3 200 something. He and Staal should be wrecking people that mess around. Cooke should be the greatest deterrent against that stuff anyway. If a Flyer goes after one of our stars let Cooke or Godard put Briere through the glass, the first two rows of seats, and then the concrete behind there.

Matthew Monstar wrote:So are the big guns and fleury going to play tomorrow night againt Toronto? Im going and would like to see them play and considering its at home and the other group played a few nights ago.